The visiting Cleveland Cavaliers will try to keep the Atlanta Hawks spinning in the wrong direction when the two Eastern Conference rivals meet for the first time on Thursday.
Both teams are on the second night of a back-to-back. The Cavs won their third straight game on Wednesday, a 121-111 victory over Washington. The Hawks lost their third in a row, falling to Miami 129-117 on Wednesday.
Tipoff on Thursday was pushed back an hour to 8 p.m. to make State Farm Arena available for the Atlanta Dream, who are playing Golden State in Game 6 of the WNBA Finals.
Peyton Watson said Wednesday that the Cavs can’t overlook the struggling Hawks.
“Every team in the East presents its own challenge when we walk out there to play,” Watson said. “But we’re going to be ready for it. We’re aware this is an 82-game season. It’s tedious and this is exactly what we signed up for.”
Watson, acquired from Denver in the offseason, scored a season-high 22 points on Wednesday and surpassed the 2,000-point career mark. He is averaging 14 points.
“It’s just stuff I could always do,” Watson said. “I grew up doing this stuff with my Pops every single day. I’m a real problem on offense and I can’t wait to show more of that, but just getting these wins is what matters most, so we’re going to keep that up.”
Veterans Donovan Mitchell and James Harden have been perpetual matchup problems for the Hawks in the past. Mitchell, who is averaging 24.7 points, has averaged 26.8 in 20 career games against Atlanta. Harden, who is averaging 15.8 points, has averaged 25 points, 7.8 assists and 5.6 rebounds against the Hawks.
The Hawks opened the season with two wins, but struggled in two losses to Houston and the loss to Miami – both larger, more physical teams. On Wednesday it was Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo who each torched them for 24 points, as the Heat shot 53.1% from the field.
“When we play the way we’re capable of playing and need to play, we’re very competitive, meaning on the scoreboard,” Atlanta coach Quin Snyder said. “When we don’t change side-to-side, we don’t run, we don’t pass the ball, we’re just not a good team.”
Nickeil Alexander-Walker scored 23 against Miami, his most since scoring 31 on opening night, but Jalen Johnson was limited to 12 points to go with 11 assists and nine rebounds. Kingston Flemings, the team’s first-round draft choice, scored a career-high 23 points on Wednesday.
“We just have to stay committed to who we are and who we need to be successful,” Snyder said. “We’ll drill down and see the situation where we can better, but we have to stay committed to the way that’s our way. It’s not a right way or a wrong way. It’s the way we need to play and when we don’t do that, we’re not as good.”
The teams split their four games last season, each winning twice on their respective home court.
